Country Financial vs. Hastings Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Country Financial offers significantly less expensive premiums than Hastings Mutual
• Country Financial offers more affordable rates for residents of rural areas
• Hastings Mutual offers more affordable average premiums for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years

Country Financial vs. Hastings Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed your search down to Country Financial or Hastings Mutual as your top options, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Country Financial is quite a bit cheaper than Hastings Mutual, with prices averaging $138 per month compared to $211 with Hastings Mutual.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Country Financial will be the cheaper option for every single driver. Insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like how old you are, how clean your driving record is, where you live, how good your credit score is, and tons of other factors, so prices will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Country Financial or Hastings Mutual 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.

Country Financial or Hastings Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Country Financial and Hastings Mutual only compete against each other in one states, with Country Financial offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. Illinois has the most noticable difference, where Country Financial prices are over 70% more affordable than auto insurance rates at Hastings Mutual.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance bill than just where you live. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance premiums of any group on the road. That's typically because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Country Financial save more than $100 a month compared to those who use Hastings Mutual.

That being said, both companies will reduce premiums by the time you turn 25. Hastings Mutual offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Country Financial still has the cheapest rates at $139 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll normally enjoy the most affordable insurance prices out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for car insurance.

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Country Financial gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $62 cheaper than the national average for Hastings Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance premiums than married drivers. That's because policies for married policyholders generally cover multiple cars, which many carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Country Financial is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates about $71 per month less expensive than Hastings Mutual, on average. The advantage for married couples with Country Financial is also obvious, where drivers save over 40% a month.

Country Financial vs. Hastings Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into accidents and get tickets, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to pay more for auto insurance than women.

With Country Financial, women usually pay around 2% per month less than men, and about 2% less with Hastings Mutual when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at overall affordability, Country Financial comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, women save about $71 a month and men save around $73 with Country Financial compared to the average Hastings Mutual policyholder.

Country Financial or Hastings 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.

For most people, car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Country Financial normally offers significantly cheaper prices of $82 compared to Hastings Mutual's $142. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Country Financial again has the edge, with policies about $85 per month more affordable than Hastings Mutual, on average.

Is Country Financial or Hastings Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car 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 accidents will most likely raise your rates, but is Country Financial or Hastings Mutual cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Country Financial policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $31 a month if they get a ticket, while Hastings Mutual usually raises rates around $20 per month, on average.

If you have a clean record, Country Financial tends to offer the best prices at about 4% less expensive, while Hastings Mutual has the edge for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Country Financial drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums rise by over $40, while those who have insurance through Hastings Mutual will see around a $15 increase.

Overall, Hastings Mutual offers the most affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $126 compared to COUNTRY Financial's $147.

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 ticket or even an accident. On average, Hastings Mutual will climb your premiums about 77% after a DUI, while Country Financial's average rates climb by over 35%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Country Financial tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $165 monthly compared to $478 from Hastings Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact Country Financial and Hastings Mutual Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for a lot of policyholders.

Auto 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 less expensive rates.

Looking at Country Financial and Hastings Mutual specifically, which carrier has the best premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Country Financial. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save more than 30% compared to Hastings Mutual, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $72 or 37% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Country Financial typically offers lower prices than Hastings Mutual when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $80 a month less with Country Financial compared to Hastings Mutual, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around $87 per month.

Is Country Financial or Hastings Mutual 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 considerable impact on your monthly insurance cost? That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to get into a collision 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 Hastings Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Country Financial, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $2 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Country Financial is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Country Financial vs. Hastings Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a substantial role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Generally, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

Country Financial tends to offer the cheapest prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Country Financial offers premiums around $175 monthly compared to Hastings Mutual's $291. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $131 per month for Country Financial and $177 for Hastings Mutual. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest rates from both companies, with average monthly premiums coming in at $109 and $164 for Country Financial and Hastings Mutual respectively.

Country Financial vs. Hastings Mutual Discounts

Regardless of 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 possible. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you're eligible for.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Country Financial and Hastings Mutual so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Both carriers offer excellent discounts like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good student, and passive restraint discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Country Financial or Hastings Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the best company for you and your specific needs?

Country Financial might be best for you if....

• Your credit score is high.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" car insurance.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your insurance.

Hastings Mutual might be best for you if...

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• You want to save money on your auto insurance after an accident.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Country Financial and Hastings Mutual and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just Country Financial and Hastings Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Country Financial vs. Hastings Mutual FAQs

Is Country Financial or Hastings Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Country Financial is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $138 a month compared to $211 for Hastings Mutual. Even so, Country Financial won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for each policyholder, since there are several different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Country Financial or Hastings Mutual?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, Hastings Mutual offers less expensive prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record, while Country Financial is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Country Financial and Hastings Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when calculating the premiums they charge policyholders. Things like where your home is, gender, where you park your car, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Country Financial and Hastings Mutual use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

How do I know if Country Financial or Hastings Mutual 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 does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Country Financial or Hastings Mutual 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.