Cumberland Mutual vs. Penn National: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Cumberland Mutual offers more affordable premiums than Penn National
• Cumberland Mutual offers less expensive average prices for policyholders who may not have much of a commute
• Penn National offers more discounts than Cumberland Mutual

Cumberland Mutual vs. Penn National: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Cumberland Mutual or Penn National as potential options, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Penn National is about $25 more per month than Cumberland Mutual.

That being said, Cumberland Mutual may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. Insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among lots of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Cumberland Mutual and Penn National by many different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Cumberland Mutual or Penn National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Cumberland Mutual and Penn National only compete against each other in one states, with Cumberland Mutual offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Maryland has the most noticable difference, where Cumberland Mutual prices are over 40% more affordable than auto insurance rates at Penn National.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just the state you live in. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers. Generally, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $25 less a month by choosing Cumberland Mutual over Penn National.

Even so, both carriers will decrease premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Cumberland Mutual policyholders reduce more than $250 and Penn National's rates drop almost $300 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the lowest car insurance premiums you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Cumberland Mutual and Penn National? Cumberland Mutual gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $42 less expensive than the national average for Penn National.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance prices than married couples. This usually boils down to married drivers having multiple cars on their policy -- something many insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, the two carriers are comparable for single drivers, with rates only differing around $23 per month, on average. But for married policyholders, the advantage is clear - Cumberland Mutual has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Cumberland Mutual vs. Penn National: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance companies will often charge men more than women.

On average, women see rates about 5% a month less with Cumberland Mutual, while with Penn National, the difference is closer to 2% per month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Cumberland Mutual offers the most affordable average premiums for both men and women, with average prices 10% less for men and 13% cheaper for women.

Cumberland Mutual or Penn 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 so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

However, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Cumberland Mutual generally offers significantly cheaper rates of $106 compared to Penn National's $144. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Cumberland Mutual again has the edge, with policies around $10 a month more affordable than Penn National, on average.

Is Cumberland Mutual or Penn National Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

At-fault collisions and tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is Cumberland Mutual or Penn National cheaper for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Cumberland Mutual policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $18 per month if they get a ticket, while Penn National typically raises premiums about $40 a month, on average.

But Penn National has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are 18% and 4% more affordable, respectively, compared to Cumberland Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Cumberland Mutual can expect to see around an $14 -- or about 8% -- increase in their auto insurance rates. Drivers who use Penn National for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $67 (or 33%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their auto insurance carrier.

Overall, Cumberland Mutual offers the lowest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $183 compared to Penn National Insurance's $206.

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 an accident. For example, Penn National increases average prices by over $200 per month -- that's just under a 60% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Cumberland Mutual tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $233 per month compared to $346 from Penn National.

How does Credit Score Impact Cumberland Mutual and Penn National Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when carriers determine your monthly bill. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect quite a few drivers out there.

Car insurance carriers argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

So, which company offers the cheapest rates for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Cumberland Mutual. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save nearly 10% compared to Penn National, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $26 or 14% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Cumberland Mutual typically offers lower premiums than Penn National when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $27 a month less with Cumberland Mutual compared to Penn National, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about $32 a month.

Is Cumberland Mutual or Penn National 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. Usually, the more miles 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 Penn National charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Cumberland Mutual, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles annually paying around $1 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, Cumberland Mutual is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Cumberland Mutual vs. Penn National: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your vehicle can play a considerable role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Typically, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers because there are a lot more cars on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

Cumberland Mutual tends to offer the lowest option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while Penn National wins in urban areas.

In urban areas, Penn National Insurance's average prices are about $55 less than Cumberland Mutual. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $80 less with Cumberland Mutual compared to Penn National. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about $49 with Cumberland Mutual compared to Penn National.

Cumberland Mutual vs. Penn National Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Cumberland Mutual and Penn National so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Penn National has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Cumberland Mutual offers a grand total of 15 discounts, while Penn National has 16.

Both carriers offer many of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and paid in full discounts -- but Penn National also offers added pip option discounts, advance quote discounts, DRL discounts, and more that Cumberland Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Cumberland Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- employee discounts, discounts for being a good driver, new business discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Cumberland Mutual or Penn National Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which carrier is the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

Penn National might be best for you if...

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your prices rise.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Cumberland Mutual and Penn National. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 multiple companies, not just Cumberland Mutual and Penn 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 auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Cumberland Mutual vs. Penn National FAQs

Is Cumberland Mutual or Penn National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Cumberland Mutual is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $193 per month compared to $218 for Penn National. Even so, Cumberland Mutual won't necessarily be the most affordable company for each driver, since there are multiple different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, Cumberland Mutual or Penn National?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Cumberland Mutual and Penn National offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge policyholders. Factors such as your driving record, age, where your home is, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Cumberland Mutual and Penn National calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

How do I know if Cumberland Mutual or Penn National is right for me?

The only way to find the car 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, 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 auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Cumberland Mutual or Penn National 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.