Dairyland vs. Donegal Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Dairyland offers more affordable rates than Donegal Mutual
• Dairyland tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders who may not have much of a commute
• Donegal Mutual offers less expensive average prices for residents of rural areas

Dairyland vs. Donegal Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed it down to Dairyland or Donegal Mutual as potential options, but which carrier will offer you more affordable premiums?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Donegal Mutual is about $34 more per month than Dairyland.

However, that doesn't mean Dairyland will necessarily be less expensive than Donegal Mutual for every single driver. Insurance carriers vary their prices depending on things like how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, where you live, and a ton of other factors, so rates could vary drastically from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Dairyland and Donegal Mutual by several different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Dairyland or Donegal Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Dairyland and Donegal Mutual only compete against each other in two states, with Donegal Mutual offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. Delaware has the most noticable difference, where Donegal Mutual rates are over 70% more affordable than car insurance prices at Dairyland.

But there's more to auto insurance than just where you call home. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance companies calculate your premiums. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's normally 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 rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Dairyland for their auto insurance pay more than $100 less than those who use Donegal Mutual.

That being said, both carriers will drop prices by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Dairyland policyholders decrease over 55% and Donegal Mutual's rates reduce more than 60% over that time.

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 cheapest prices you'll ever see.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Dairyland and Donegal Mutual? Dairyland gets the slight edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $203 monthly compared to Donegal Mutual's $212. Even so, that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other factors, such as where you live or your credit score.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly less expensive insurance rates than single policyholders. That's usually because married couples tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Dairyland is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices about $48 a month cheaper than Donegal Mutual, on average. But for married drivers, that advantage is much less clear - Dairyland offers the most affordable average premiums.

Dairyland vs. Donegal Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, they raise the chances of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men typically pay more for auto insurance than women.

Men usually pay around 4% more per month than women with Dairyland, and about 6% more with Donegal Mutual.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, Dairyland comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $38 a month and women save around $30 with Dairyland compared to the average Donegal Mutual policyholder.

Dairyland or Donegal 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, insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms 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 provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Dairyland generally offers less expensive prices of $142 compared to Donegal Mutual's $170. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Dairyland again has the edge, with policies about $40 per month more affordable than Donegal Mutual, on average.

Is Dairyland or Donegal 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.

It's no secret secret that tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Dairyland or Donegal Mutual -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Dairyland policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $40 a month if they get a ticket, while Donegal Mutual normally raises rates around $47 per month, on average.

But Donegal Mutual is typically the cheaper option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record -- their rates are around 12% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 8% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Dairyland climbing by over $70. Donegal Mutual has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay just under $50 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, Donegal Mutual offers the lowest premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $245 compared to Dairyland's $297.

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 a collision. On average, Donegal Mutual will climb your premiums about 58% after a DUI, while Dairyland's average rates increase by 5%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Dairyland tends to be the much cheaper option with average rates of $236 a month compared to $472 from Donegal Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact Dairyland and Donegal Mutual Rates?

Did you know that many insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect quite a few drivers out there.

Auto insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Donegal Mutual and Dairyland, which one has the best prices for drivers 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 Donegal Mutual. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save 4% compared to Dairyland, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $4 or 2% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Dairyland typically offers lower premiums than Donegal Mutual when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $17 a month less with Dairyland compared to Donegal Mutual, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $131 per month.

Is Dairyland or Donegal Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly rates. That's because the fewer miles you put on your vehicle each year, the less likely you are to get into an accident 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 Dairyland charges. However, there's a pretty significant difference in monthly prices for Donegal Mutual, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying about $36 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Dairyland is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

Dairyland vs. Donegal Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders due to the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Looking at these carriers side-by-side, Donegal Mutual boasts the cheapest average premiums in rural and suburban areas, while Dairyland wins in urban areas.

In urban areas, Dairyland's average prices are around $131 less than Donegal Mutual Insurance Company. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $11 less with Donegal Mutual compared to Dairyland. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around $19 with Donegal Mutual compared to Dairyland.

Dairyland vs. Donegal Mutual Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto 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 Dairyland and Donegal Mutual so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Donegal Mutual blows Dairyland away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 20 different discounts to Dairyland's 11.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good student, and passive restraint discounts. Donegal Mutual also offers ABS discounts, driver training discounts, family discounts, and more that Dairyland does not.

On the flip side, Dairyland has a couple unique discounts of its own -- agency transfer discounts, discounts for being a homeowner, and prior insurance discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Dairyland or Donegal Mutual Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Dairyland might be best for you if....

• Your credit is below-average.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Donegal Mutual might be best for you if...

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on your record.
• You have above-average credit.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Dairyland and Donegal Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Dairyland and Donegal 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 insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Dairyland vs. Donegal Mutual FAQs

Is Dairyland or Donegal Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Dairyland is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $256 per month compared to $290 for Donegal Mutual. However, Dairyland won't necessarily be the most affordable company for every driver, since there are lots of different factors that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, Dairyland or Donegal Mutual?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile. For example, Donegal Mutual offers cheaper premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record, while Dairyland is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Dairyland and Donegal Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at lots of different variables when determining the prices they charge policyholders. Things such as gender, where you park your vehicle, your driving record, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Dairyland and Donegal Mutual use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

How do I know if Dairyland or Donegal Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Dairyland or Donegal 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.