Co-operative vs. Main Street America: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Co-operative offers significantly more affordable premiums than Main Street America
• Co-operative offers less expensive average rates for single people who will be the only person on the insurance policy
• Main Street America may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Co-operative Insurance Companies

Co-operative or Main Street America: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering considerable savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering Co-operative or Main Street America, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Main Street America is quite a bit more expensive than Co-operative, with prices averaging $227 a month compared to just $143 with Co-operative.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Co-operative will be the cheaper option for every single driver. Auto insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on where you live or how good your credit score is (among quite a few other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Co-operative or Main Street America is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each company broken down by a variety of different rate factors.

Co-operative vs. Main Street America: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Co-operative and Main Street America only compete against each other in Vermont, where Co-operative offers the cheaper average premiums. Undefined drivers tend to pay about undefined per month less on average compared to drivers who use undefined for their car insurance.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance payment than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Co-operative save almost 40% a month compared to those who use Main Street America.

Even so, both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time you turn 25. Main Street America offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Co-operative still has the most affordable prices at $133 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest rates you'll ever see.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Co-operative gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older over 40% more affordable than the national average for Main Street America.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance premiums are generally more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married policyholders? That's because policies for married couples typically cover multiple vehicles, which a lot of carriers will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Co-operative premiums coming in at a third less than Main Street America's. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - Co-operative has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Co-operative or Main Street America: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, which means they'll normally end up paying more for car insurance than women.

With Co-operative, women typically pay around 6% per month less than men, but surprisingly, with Main Street America, women generally pay about 3% more a month than men.

When it comes to the cheapest rates for each gender, Co-operative comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $91 per month and men save around $76 with Co-operative compared to the average Main Street America policyholder.

Co-operative vs. Main Street America: 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.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are several different coverages that account for a range 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.

However, most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Co-operative has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $65. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Co-operative again has the edge, with policies averaging about $222 a month to Main Street America's $295.

Is Co-operative or Main Street America Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

Speeding tickets and collisions will most likely raise your prices, but is Co-operative or Main Street America cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Co-operative auto insurance policies don't report seeing their premiums increase after getting a ticket, but Main Street America policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by around 25%.

But Co-operative is usually the less expensive option for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records. Drivers with a clean record can save about 40% per month with Co-operative Insurance Companies, and the same can be said for those with a ticket, too.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Main Street America climbing by around 19%. Co-operative has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay 25% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, Co-operative offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average prices coming in at $140 compared to Main Street America Insurance's $215.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even a collision. On average, Co-operative will increase your rates about 53% after a DUI, while Main Street America's average premiums rise by nearly 40%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Co-operative tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $225 to Main Street America's $283.

How does Credit Score Impact Co-operative and Main Street America Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it might come into play for several drivers.

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

Looking at Co-operative and Main Street America specifically, which carrier has the best 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 Co-operative or Main Street America Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a big impact on your monthly prices? Typically, the more milage you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Co-operative charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Main Street America, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $4 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, Co-operative is the more affordable company.

Co-operative or Main Street America: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a pretty big impact as well. Usually, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers since there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads where they live.

Co-operative tends to offer the cheapest rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Co-operative Insurance Companies's average prices are around $127 less than Main Street America Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay about $81 less with Co-operative compared to Main Street America. Those in rural areas can expect to save around $43 with Co-operative compared to Main Street America.

Co-operative vs. Main Street America Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new 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 auto 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're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Co-operative and Main Street America so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Overall, Main Street America comes out ahead with 18 discounts to Co-operative's 15.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for getting driver training, DRL discounts, and multi-policy discounts. Main Street America also offers discounts for distant student, EFT, good payer, and more.

On the other hand, Co-operative has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like group discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, non-smoker discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Co-operative or Main Street America Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the right fit for you?

Co-operative might be best for you if....

• You have a clean record.
• You're looking for the best premiums on liability only coverage.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

Main Street America might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (Main Street America offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Co-operative and Main Street America and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto 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 car insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just Co-operative and Main Street America. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Co-operative vs. Main Street America FAQs

Is Co-operative or Main Street America cheaper?

Co-operative is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $143 a month with Co-operative and $227 for Main Street America. Even so, that doesn't mean Co-operative will be the most affordable carrier for each driver, since there are lots of different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, Co-operative or Main Street America?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Co-operative and Main Street America offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use quite a few different variables when determining the prices they charge. Things like where your home is, gender, age, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Co-operative and Main Street America calculate premiums using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

How do I know if Co-operative or Main Street America 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Co-operative or Main Street America 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.