Co-operative vs. Union Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Union Mutual offers slightly cheaper premiums than Co-operative
• Co-operative may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Union Mutual
• Union Mutual offers more affordable average prices for policyholders who have a short commute

Co-operative or Union Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might be considering Co-operative or Union Mutual as potential options, but between the two, which company has less expensive rates for auto insurance?

As you can see, Co-operative is around $11 more a month than Union Mutual when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean Union Mutual will necessarily be cheaper than Co-operative for every single driver. Car insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on how good your credit score is or how clean your driving record is (among a lot of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Co-operative or Union Mutual is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each carrier broken down by a bunch of different rate factors.

Co-operative vs. Union Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Both Co-operative and Union Mutual only offer auto insurance in Vermont, so you'll see that the average figures here will mirror the ones we mentioned above. Union Mutual drivers tend to pay about $11 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Co-operative for their insurance.

Typically, the state you live in will play a hefty role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but since both companies only do business in Vermont, a bunch of other variables will come into play when you compare Co-operative and Union Mutual. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers. It's generally because 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 over 10% a month compared to those who use Union Mutual.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Co-operative policyholders decrease about $150 and Union Mutual's prices drop around $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Union Mutual gets the slight edge here, with average prices coming in at about $97 per month compared to Co-operative's $107.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are usually more expensive for those who are single than they are for married drivers? This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something lots of insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average rates between these two companies is not very significant, with Union Mutual prices coming in at around 3% less than Co-operative's. The advantage for married couples is more obvious, where drivers who use Union Mutual save about $20 per month.

Co-operative or Union Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and get speeding tickets. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

Typically, men see premiums around 6% a month higher with Co-operative, and about 10% more with Union Mutual.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Union Mutual comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices 6% less for men and 10% cheaper for women.

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

However, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Union Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $48. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Union Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging around $216 per month to Co-operative's $222.

Is Co-operative or Union Mutual 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Co-operative car insurance policies don't report seeing their rates increase after getting a ticket, but Union Mutual policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by about 4%.

But Union Mutual is usually the less expensive option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering premiums that are $17 and $13 more affordable, respectively, compared to Co-operative Insurance Companies.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Co-operative drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices increase by 25%, while those who have insurance through Union Mutual will see around a 15% increase.

At the end of the day, the cheaper rates come from Union Mutual, with average premiums coming in at $103 compared to Co-operative Insurance Companies's $140.

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 insurance bill -- normally a lot more than a collision or ticket. Union Mutual drivers usually see a 64% increase in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Co-operative will generally raise rates by about 53%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Co-operative tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $225 to Union Mutual's $244.

How does Credit Score Impact Co-operative and Union Mutual Rates?

Did you know many insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining premiums? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an auto insurance factor, but it might come into play for many policyholders.

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

Looking at Co-operative and Union Mutual specifically, which carrier has the best rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, Union Mutual will typically reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Union Mutual comes in NaN less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save about 13% with Union Mutual compared to average premiums from Co-operative.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Union Mutual typically offers lower prices than Co-operative when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 6% a month less with Union Mutual compared to Co-operative, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about 7% monthly.

Is Co-operative or Union Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in your monthly auto insurance bill. That's because the more milage you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Co-operative or Union Mutual report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Union Mutual comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average premiums of $132 per month for both.

Co-operative or Union Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your vehicle can play a large role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas since there are a lot more cars on the road where they live, which increases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Union Mutual usually comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around 9% with Union Mutual compared to Co-operative. People who live in suburban areas pay about 9% less with Union Mutual compared to Co-operative. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Union Mutual's average premiums are around 7% less than Co-operative Insurance Companies.

Co-operative vs. Union Mutual Discounts

No matter 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 you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many 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 looked at all of the different discounts Co-operative and Union Mutual 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, Co-operative has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Union Mutual offers a grand total of 10 discounts, while Co-operative has 15.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Co-operative also offers discounts for defensive driver, DRL, good driving, and more.

On the other hand, Union Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own like company car discounts and good student discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Co-operative or Union Mutual Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which carrier is the right fit for you?

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

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You live in an suburban area.
• You are purchasing your auto insurance with a spouse.

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

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.
• You want to save money while purchasing insurance for a teenager.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Co-operative and Union Mutual and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Co-operative and Union Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Co-operative vs. Union Mutual FAQs

Is Co-operative or Union Mutual cheaper?

Union Mutual is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $132 a month with Union Mutual and $143 for Co-operative. However, that doesn't mean Union Mutual will be the cheapest company for each policyholder, since there are a range of different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Co-operative or Union Mutual?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, Union Mutual is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit, while Co-operative offers less expensive prices for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Co-operative and Union Mutual offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use quite a few different factors when calculating the rates they charge. Variables such as your driving record, gender, age, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Co-operative and Union Mutual use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

How do I know if Co-operative or Union Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the 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, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Co-operative or Union Mutual 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.