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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, GEICO offers significantly more affordable prices than Donegal Mutual
• GEICO offers more discounts than Donegal Mutual Insurance Company
• GEICO tends to be a much less expensive option for people who are single and purchasing car insurance by yourself

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

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

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Donegal Mutual or GEICO as potential options, but between the two, which carrier has cheaper rates for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, GEICO has average rates that are about 35% per month more affordable than those from Donegal Mutual.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean GEICO will be the cheaper option for each driver. Auto insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how good your credit score is or how old you are (among many other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

Donegal Mutual or GEICO: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Donegal Mutual and GEICO compete against each other in four states, with Donegal Mutual offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Maryland has the most noticable difference, where GEICO rates are over 70% cheaper than insurance premiums at Donegal Mutual.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just where you call home. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. It'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 auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have GEICO for their car insurance pay more than $250 less than those who use Donegal Mutual.

That being said, both carriers will decrease prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Donegal Mutual policyholders lower nearly $400 and GEICO's premiums drop over $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the cheapest insurance rates out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for auto insurance.

When looking at Donegal Mutual and GEICO specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? GEICO gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $148 a month compared to Donegal Mutual's $212.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance prices are typically more expensive for those who are single than they are for married drivers? That's because policies for married policyholders generally cover more than one car, which quite a few companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, GEICO is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums about $136 a month less expensive than Donegal Mutual, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - GEICO has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Donegal Mutual vs. GEICO: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which means they'll normally end up paying more for car insurance than women.

On average, men see premiums around $20 per month higher with Donegal Mutual, and about $8 more with GEICO.

Looking at overall affordability, GEICO comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average rates $110 less for men and $100 cheaper for women.

Donegal Mutual or GEICO: 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.

Auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

Even so, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, GEICO generally offers significantly more affordable premiums of $101 compared to Donegal Mutual's $170. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, GEICO again has the edge, with policies around $150 a month less expensive than Donegal Mutual, on average.

Is Donegal Mutual or GEICO Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their 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 at-fault accidents and tickets lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- Donegal Mutual or GEICO -- has the lowest prices for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Donegal Mutual policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $47 per month if they get a ticket, while GEICO typically raises prices about $35 a month, on average.

However, GEICO tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering rates that are $82 and $94 more affordable, respectively, compared to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Donegal Mutual drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums rise by just under $50, while those who have insurance through GEICO will see around a $85 increase.

Overall, drivers who use GEICO end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $200 compared to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company's $245.

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 car insurance bill. Donegal Mutual drivers usually see a 58% raise in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while GEICO will usually increase prices by about 58%.

How does Credit Score Impact Donegal Mutual and GEICO Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (for example, Hawaii and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect many policyholders out there.

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

So, which company offers the best rates for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Donegal Mutual or GEICO 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 auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Typically, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

GEICO tends to be the cheaper option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure. GEICO average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over $90 more affordable than Donegal Mutual. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay more than $100 less with GEICO over Donegal Mutual.

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

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because there are a lot more cars on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

GEICO tends to offer the most affordable rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, GEICO offers prices around $211 per month compared to Donegal Mutual's $445. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $185 per month for GEICO and $240 for Donegal Mutual. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest rates from both companies, with average monthly prices coming in at $159 and $184 for GEICO and Donegal Mutual respectively.

Donegal Mutual vs. GEICO Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many car insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to find all the ones you qualify for or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Donegal Mutual and GEICO offer their customers so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

GEICO knocks Donegal Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering eight more discounts than Donegal Mutual.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for getting driver training, discounts for being a good driver, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company. GEICO also offers commercial drivers license discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, deployed driver discounts, and more that Donegal Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Donegal Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, family discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Donegal Mutual or GEICO 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. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the right company for you and your specific needs?

GEICO might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You and your spouse are buying auto insurance together.

Donegal Mutual might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Donegal Mutual and GEICO. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to 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 Donegal Mutual and GEICO. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Donegal Mutual vs. GEICO FAQs

Is Donegal Mutual or GEICO cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, GEICO is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $185 a month compared to $290 for Donegal Mutual. Even so, GEICO won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each driver, since there are a range of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Donegal Mutual or GEICO?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Donegal Mutual and GEICO offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at a lot of different variables when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Things like gender, where you call home, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Donegal Mutual and GEICO calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple 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 information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Donegal Mutual or GEICO 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.