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

Quick Facts

• In general, Penn National offers significantly cheaper prices than Donegal Mutual
• Donegal Mutual may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Penn National Insurance
• Penn National offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually

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

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering pretty big savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Donegal Mutual or Penn National for your next policy, but between the two, which one will offer you less expensive rates?

Looking at nationwide averages, Penn National has average rates that are around 25% a month more affordable than those from Donegal Mutual.

However, that doesn't mean Penn National will necessarily be cheaper than Donegal Mutual for every driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their prices depending on things like how old you are, where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, and all sorts of other factors, so premiums will vary quite a bit from person to person.

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

Donegal Mutual vs. Penn National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Donegal Mutual and Penn National only compete against each other in two states, with Penn National offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Virginia has the most noticable difference, where Penn National prices are $91 less expensive than insurance rates at Donegal Mutual.

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance premiums of any group out there on the road. That's usually because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Penn National for their car insurance pay over 25% less than those who use Donegal Mutual.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Donegal Mutual policyholders reduce about $400 and Penn National's rates lower almost $300 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest prices you can find.

So, which carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? Penn National gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $163 per month compared to Donegal Mutual's $212.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance premiums are normally cheaper for married drivers than they are for single drivers? That's generally 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 rates between these two carriers is significant, with Penn National premiums coming in at a quarter less than Donegal Mutual's. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Penn National offers the cheapest average prices.

Donegal Mutual or Penn National: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get tickets and get into accidents. That means when it comes to car insurance men will typically end up paying a little more.

On average, men see rates about $20 per month higher with Donegal Mutual, but with Penn National, the difference is closer to $5 a month.

When it comes to the most affordable prices for each gender, Penn National comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $66 per month and men save around $79 with Penn National compared to the average Donegal Mutual policyholder.

Donegal Mutual vs. 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.

It's no secret that insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Penn National has the edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $144. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Penn National again has the edge, with policies averaging about $292 a month to Donegal Mutual's $409.

Is Donegal Mutual or Penn National 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with at-fault collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest rates to drivers with spotty 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. Penn National policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 22%.

Even so, Penn National is typically the more affordable option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket. With Penn National Insurance, drivers with a clean record can save around $58 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $65 a month.

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 prices. Drivers who use Penn National for their car insurance will see a monthly bill around $67 (or 33%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance company.

At the end of the day, the less expensive premiums come from Penn National, with average rates coming in at $206 compared to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company's $245.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly insurance bill -- usually a lot more than a collision or ticket. Donegal Mutual drivers usually see a 58% increase in their car insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Penn National will generally climb prices by about 60%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Penn National tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $346 to Donegal Mutual's $472.

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

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly auto insurance rates. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it might come into play for a lot of drivers.

Insurance companies argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper prices.

Looking at Donegal Mutual and Penn National specifically, which carrier has the best rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Penn National will typically reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Penn National comes in nearly 24.06 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save about 24% with Penn National compared to average prices from Donegal Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Penn National typically offers lower premiums than Donegal Mutual when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 25% per month less with Penn National compared to Donegal Mutual, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about 26% monthly.

Is Donegal 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 your monthly auto insurance bill. Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper rates since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

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 pretty significant difference in monthly prices for Donegal Mutual, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle yearly paying around $36 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, for drivers in both categories, Penn National is the less expensive carrier.

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

Where you park your car can have a big impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Generally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Penn National typically comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about $19 with Penn National compared to Donegal Mutual. People who live in suburban areas pay around $28 less with Penn National compared to Donegal Mutual. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Penn National Insurance's average premiums are about $170 less than Donegal Mutual Insurance Company.

Donegal Mutual vs. Penn National 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 insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem hard to find all the of the ones you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Donegal Mutual and Penn National offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Overall, Donegal Mutual comes out ahead with 20 discounts to Penn National's 16.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Donegal Mutual also offers discounts for family discount, good driving, hybrid vehicle, and more.

On the other hand, Penn National has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like added pip option discounts, distant student discounts, DRL discounts, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the right fit for you?

Penn National might be best for you if....

• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your prices.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You are purchasing your car insurance with a spouse.

Donegal Mutual might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- Donegal Mutual has the most.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Donegal Mutual and Penn National. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Donegal Mutual and Penn National. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Donegal Mutual vs. Penn National FAQs

Is Donegal Mutual or Penn National cheaper?

Penn National is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $218 a month with Penn National and $290 for Donegal Mutual. That being said, that doesn't mean Penn National will be the lowest company for everyone, since there are multiple different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Donegal Mutual or Penn National?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

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

Car insurance companies use many different variables when determining the rates they charge. Things like your driving record, age, gender, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Donegal Mutual and Penn National use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier 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 information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Donegal Mutual or Penn National 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.