Donegal Mutual vs. Main Street America: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Main Street America offers significantly less expensive rates than Donegal Mutual
• Donegal Mutual offers more affordable average premiums for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods
• Main Street America tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse

Donegal Mutual or Main Street America: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed it down to Donegal Mutual or Main Street America as potential options, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Main Street America is around $63 a month more affordable than Donegal Mutual.

That being said, Main Street America may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. Car insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how clean your driving record is or where you live (among a range of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Donegal Mutual or Main Street America is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Donegal Mutual vs. Main Street America: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Donegal Mutual and Main Street America only compete against each other in one states, with Main Street America offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. Virginia has the most noticable difference, where Main Street America prices are $23 cheaper than insurance premiums at Donegal Mutual.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance cost than just where you call home. Keep reading to find out 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 other group of drivers. It's because teen 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 still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 25% less per month by choosing Main Street America over Donegal Mutual.

Even so, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums decrease significantly once you turn 25. Main Street America offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Donegal Mutual's average rates reduce more than 60% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the most affordable car insurance prices out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually reduces their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise premiums.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Donegal Mutual and Main Street America? Main Street America gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $181 monthly compared to Donegal Mutual's $212.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance prices are generally less expensive for married couples than they are for those who are single? That's typically because married policyholders tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Main Street America premiums coming in at a quarter less than Donegal Mutual's. The advantage for married drivers with Main Street America is also obvious, where drivers save almost 20% a month.

Donegal Mutual or Main Street America: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher rates.

On average, men see prices around 6% per month higher with Donegal Mutual, but surprisingly, with Main Street America, men usually pay about 3% a month less than women.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Main Street America offers the cheapest average premiums for both men and women. On average, women save about $51 per month and men save around $75 with Main Street America compared to the average Donegal Mutual policyholder.

Donegal Mutual vs. Main Street America: 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 auto insurance, but there are so many different coverages and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

However, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Main Street America has the slight edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $159. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Main Street America again has the edge, with policies averaging about $295 a month to Donegal Mutual's $409.

Is Donegal Mutual or Main Street America Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance carriers offering great rates for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

You'll probably end up paying more with accidents and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest prices to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Donegal Mutual for their car insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 19% after getting a speeding ticket. Main Street America policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 26%.

But Main Street America tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record, offering premiums that are 11% and 3% more affordable, respectively, compared to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Donegal Mutual can expect to see around an $48 -- or about 20% -- rise in their auto insurance rates. Drivers who use Main Street America for their car insurance will see a monthly bill around $40 (or 19%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance company.

At the end of the day, Main Street America offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average prices coming in at $215 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 speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, Donegal Mutual increases average rates by nearly $300 per month -- that's nearly a 60% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Main Street America tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $283 to Donegal Mutual's $472.

How does Credit Score Impact Donegal Mutual and Main Street America Rates?

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

The reasoning car insurance companies use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so generally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive rates.

So, which carrier offers the best prices for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Main Street America will typically reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Main Street America comes in just under 48.58 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save around 43% with Main Street America compared to average rates from Donegal Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have less-than-stellar credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best premiums. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 35% less with Main Street America than Donegal Mutual, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around 11% a month with Donegal Mutual.

Is Donegal Mutual or Main Street America 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 your monthly rates. 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.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Main Street America offers more affordable prices than Donegal Mutual. Main Street America's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $47 cheaper than Donegal Mutual. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay around $79 less with Main Street America over Donegal Mutual.

Donegal Mutual or Main Street America: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for insurance. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas since there are a lot more vehicles on the roads where they live.

Main Street America tends to offer the lowest option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while Donegal Mutual wins in rural areas.

In urban areas, Main Street America's average premiums are about $264 while Donegal Mutual offers prices around $445. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly premium of about $230 with Main Street America compared to $240 with Donegal Mutual. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $184 a month with Donegal Mutual and $188 with Main Street America.

Donegal Mutual vs. Main Street America 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 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.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Donegal Mutual and Main Street America 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, Donegal Mutual comes out ahead with 20 discounts to Main Street America's 18.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for getting driver training, discounts for being a good driver, and multi-policy discounts. Donegal Mutual also offers discounts for advance quote, family discount, group discount, and more.

On the other hand, Main Street America has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like distant student discounts, DRL discounts, EFT discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Donegal Mutual or Main Street America Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Donegal Mutual or Main Street America the right one for you and your specific needs?

Main Street America might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the auto insurance policy.
• Your credit score is high.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Donegal Mutual might be best for you if...

• You want to save extra money with discounts.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Donegal Mutual and Main Street America and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple carriers, not just Donegal Mutual and Main Street America. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Donegal Mutual vs. Main Street America FAQs

Is Donegal Mutual or Main Street America cheaper?

Main Street America is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $227 per month with Main Street America and $290 for Donegal Mutual. However, that doesn't mean Main Street America will be the most affordable carrier for each driver, since there are a range of different factors that are considered when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Donegal Mutual or Main Street America?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Donegal Mutual is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Main Street America offers cheaper prices for policyholders with an at-fault collision on their record.

Why do Donegal Mutual and Main Street America offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use lots of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Things such as where you park your car, gender, age, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Donegal Mutual and Main Street America calculate rates differently, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

How do I know if Donegal Mutual or Main Street America is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance company 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Donegal Mutual or Main Street America 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.