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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Nationwide offers significantly more affordable rates than Donegal Mutual
• Nationwide may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Donegal Mutual Insurance Company
• Nationwide has cheaper premiums for policyholders who drive fewer than 12,000 miles yearly

Donegal Mutual or Nationwide: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Donegal Mutual or Nationwide as your top options, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Donegal Mutual has average rates that are around 40% a month more expensive than those from Nationwide.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Nationwide will be the less expensive option for every single driver. Auto insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among a whole range of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Donegal Mutual and Nationwide by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Donegal Mutual vs. Nationwide: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Donegal Mutual and Nationwide compete against each other in four states, with Nationwide offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Virginia has the most noticable difference, where Nationwide rates are $123 cheaper than insurance prices at Donegal Mutual.

But there's more to calculating car insurance rates than just your home state. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Nationwide save over 40% per month compared to those who use Donegal Mutual.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your premiums decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. Nationwide offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Donegal Mutual's average prices lower more than 60% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the most affordable car insurance premiums 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 rates.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Donegal Mutual and Nationwide? Nationwide gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older over 40% less expensive than the national average for Donegal Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance prices than married couples. That's normally because married policyholders tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with Nationwide rates coming in at about half of Donegal Mutual's. The advantage for married drivers with Nationwide is also obvious, where drivers save around $90 a month.

Donegal Mutual or Nationwide: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but men typically pay more for car insurance than women do. 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 prices.

Women generally pay almost $20 per month less than men with Donegal Mutual, but with Nationwide, the difference is closer to $12 a month.

Looking at overall affordability, Nationwide comes out as the lowest option for both genders, with average premiums 41% less for men and 42% cheaper for women.

Donegal Mutual vs. Nationwide: 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, auto insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different coverages and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which usually refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Nationwide has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $112. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Nationwide again has the edge, with policies averaging about $229 per month to Donegal Mutual's $409.

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

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their auto insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

Speeding tickets and at-fault accidents will most likely raise your rates, but is Donegal Mutual or Nationwide more affordable for 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. Nationwide policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 16%.

Even so, Nationwide tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record. With Nationwide, drivers with a clean record can save around $72 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $95 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Donegal Mutual drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices climb by just under 20%, while those who have insurance through Nationwide will see around a 30% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Nationwide end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $178 compared to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company's $245.

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. For example, Donegal Mutual increases average rates by nearly $300 a month -- that's nearly a 60% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Donegal Mutual and Nationwide Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper rates, while those with poor credit will generally be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Donegal Mutual and Nationwide, which company has the best premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Donegal Mutual or Nationwide 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 pretty big impact on how much insurance companies will charge for coverage? Usually, the more milage you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Nationwide offers less expensive prices than Donegal Mutual. Nationwide's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in just under 40% cheaper than Donegal Mutual. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay nearly 45% less with Nationwide over Donegal Mutual.

Donegal Mutual or Nationwide: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your vehicle can play a large role in how much you pay for insurance. Normally, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders because of the number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

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

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Nationwide's average rates are about 55% less than Donegal Mutual Insurance Company. People who live in suburban areas pay around 34% less with Nationwide compared to Donegal Mutual. Those in rural areas can expect to save about 18% with Nationwide compared to Donegal Mutual.

Donegal Mutual vs. Nationwide Discounts

No matter 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 you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Donegal Mutual and Nationwide so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Overall, Nationwide has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Donegal Mutual offers a grand total of 20 discounts, while Nationwide has 22.

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. Nationwide also offers discounts for agency transfer, distant student, EFT, and more.

On the other hand, Donegal Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like ABS discounts, family discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, and more.

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

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Donegal Mutual or Nationwide the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Nationwide might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the car insurance policy.
• You're looking for the best premiums on liability only coverage.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Donegal Mutual might be best for you if...

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

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Donegal Mutual and Nationwide 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 a handful of companies, not just Donegal Mutual and Nationwide. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Donegal Mutual vs. Nationwide FAQs

Is Donegal Mutual or Nationwide cheaper?

Nationwide is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $170 per month with Nationwide and $290 for Donegal Mutual. That being said, that doesn't mean Nationwide will be the cheapest carrier for every policyholder, since there are a bunch of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Donegal Mutual or Nationwide?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Donegal Mutual and Nationwide offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use a lot of different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Things such as where your home is, where you live, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Donegal Mutual and Nationwide calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

How do I know if Donegal Mutual or Nationwide 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 quotes from dozens of your local top insurance companies 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 Nationwide 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.