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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Co-operative offers more affordable prices than Vermont Mutual
• Co-operative has cheaper rates for policyholders who live in suburban areas
• Co-operative tends to be a much less expensive option for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision

Co-operative or Vermont Mutual: 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 huge savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Co-operative or Vermont Mutual as your top options, but between the two, which carrier has more affordable premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Vermont Mutual has average rates that are around 17% a month more expensive than those from Co-operative.

But Co-operative may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Car insurance carriers vary their prices depending on things like how good your credit score is, where you live, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, and tons of other factors, so rates could vary drastically from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Co-operative and Vermont Mutual by several different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

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

Co-operative and Vermont Mutual only compete against each other in Vermont, where Vermont Mutual offers the cheaper average rates. Vermont Mutual drivers tend to pay about $6 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Co-operative for their insurance.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance prices than just where you call home. 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 insurance than any group on the road. It's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of 15% less a month by choosing Co-operative over Vermont Mutual.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your premiums reduce significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Co-operative policyholders decrease over 55% and Vermont Mutual's rates lower more than 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Co-operative and Vermont Mutual specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Co-operative gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $24 less expensive than the national average for Vermont Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance rates are generally cheaper for married couples than they are for those who are single? That's because policies for married drivers usually cover several vehicles, which a lot of carriers will give you a discount for.

For single drivers, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with Co-operative prices coming in at about 15% less than Vermont Mutual's. The advantage for married policyholders with Co-operative is also obvious, where drivers save over 15% per month.

Co-operative or Vermont Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but car insurance is typically cheaper for women than it is for men. That's because men are more likely to get into accidents and get tickets, which raises the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

With Co-operative, women normally pay around 6% a month less than men, and about 8% less with Vermont Mutual.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Co-operative comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices 18% less for men and 16% cheaper for women.

Co-operative vs. Vermont 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.

It's no secret that auto insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which generally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Co-operative has the edge, with average monthly rates 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 around $222 per month to Vermont Mutual's $261.

Is Co-operative or Vermont Mutual 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.

It's no secret secret that at-fault accidents and speeding tickets lead to higher rates, but which company -- Co-operative or Vermont Mutual -- has the lowest prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Co-operative insurance policies don't report seeing their premiums increase after getting a ticket, but Vermont Mutual policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by about 6%.

Even so, Co-operative is usually the less expensive option for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records, offering rates that are $12 and $19 cheaper, respectively, compared to Vermont Mutual.

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 Vermont Mutual will see around a 20% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Co-operative end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $140 compared to Vermont Mutual's $144.

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 ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. On average, Vermont Mutual will raise your premiums about 62% after a DUI, while Co-operative's average prices rise by nearly 55%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Co-operative tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $225 to Vermont Mutual's $307.

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

Did you know many insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (for example, are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

Car insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper prices.

Looking specifically at Vermont Mutual and Co-operative, which company has the most affordable premiums for policyholders 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 Vermont 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 how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car each year, the less likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Co-operative or Vermont Mutual report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Co-operative comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle every year, with average rates of $143 a month for both.

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

Where you park your car can play a considerable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas since there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Co-operative typically comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about $7 with Co-operative compared to Vermont Mutual. People who live in suburban areas pay around $20 less with Co-operative compared to Vermont Mutual. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Co-operative Insurance Companies's average prices are about $62 less than Vermont Mutual.

Co-operative vs. Vermont 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. That's where car insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Co-operative and Vermont Mutual so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Co-operative has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Vermont Mutual offers a grand total of 14 discounts, while Co-operative has 15.

Both companies offer lots of the same discounts -- like discounts for getting driver training, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and passive restraint discounts -- but Co-operative also offers discounts for defensive driver, DRL, good driving, and more.

On the other hand, Vermont Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, annual mileage discounts, distant student discounts, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the right carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• You will be the only person on the insurance policy.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower premiums.

Vermont Mutual might be best for you if...

• You have above-average credit.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Co-operative and Vermont Mutual and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto 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 multiple carriers, not just Co-operative and Vermont 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 top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Co-operative vs. Vermont Mutual FAQs

Is Co-operative or Vermont Mutual cheaper?

Co-operative is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $143 per month with Co-operative and $173 for Vermont Mutual. That being said, that doesn't mean Co-operative will be the most affordable company for each policyholder, since there are multiple different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Co-operative or Vermont Mutual?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Vermont Mutual is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit, while Co-operative offers more affordable prices for drivers with a recent DUI.

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

Car insurance companies use many different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Things like your driving record, age, gender, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Co-operative and Vermont Mutual calculate prices differently, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

How do I know if Co-operative or Vermont 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 companies 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 ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Co-operative or Vermont 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.