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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Progressive offers significantly more affordable rates than Donegal Mutual
• Progressive has cheaper premiums for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods
• Progressive tends to be a much less expensive option for policyholders who live in urban areas

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

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering hefty savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Donegal Mutual or Progressive, but between the two, which one will offer you cheaper prices?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Donegal Mutual has average rates that are around 40% a month more expensive than those from Progressive.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Progressive will be the more affordable option for each driver. After all, insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, where you call home, your driving record, or even your age (among other things). So, at the end of the day, premiums from each company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Donegal Mutual and Progressive by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

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

Donegal Mutual and Progressive 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 Progressive rates are $213 more affordable than auto insurance prices at Donegal Mutual.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance cost than just where you live. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. It's because teen 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. As you can see above, teens who use Progressive save almost 30% per month compared to those who use Donegal Mutual.

However, both carriers will reduce premiums by the time drivers turn 25. Progressive offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Donegal Mutual's average prices drop over 60% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the lowest car insurance premiums you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for insurance.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Donegal Mutual and Progressive? Progressive gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $131 monthly compared to Donegal Mutual's $212.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance rates are usually more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married policyholders? That's generally because married couples 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 companies is significant, with Progressive prices coming in at a third less than Donegal Mutual's. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Progressive offers the cheapest average rates.

Donegal Mutual or Progressive: Average Rates by Gender

Men tend to pay more for auto insurance than women. That's because women are less likely to get tickets and get into accidents, which decreases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

On average, men see premiums around 6% a month higher with Donegal Mutual, and about 3% with Progressive.

Looking at overall affordability, Progressive comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $103 per month and men save around $116 with Progressive compared to the average Donegal Mutual policyholder.

Donegal Mutual vs. Progressive: 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. There are so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

But the 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 liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Progressive has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $111. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Progressive again has the edge, with policies averaging about $250 a month to Donegal Mutual's $409.

Is Donegal Mutual or Progressive 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 speeding tickets and at-fault collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the most affordable rates to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Donegal Mutual for their insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up around 19% after getting a speeding ticket. Progressive policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 17%.

That being said, Progressive has less expensive premiums for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 24% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 26% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Donegal Mutual can expect to see around an $48 -- or about 20% -- rise in their insurance prices. Drivers who use Progressive for their car insurance will see a monthly bill around $65 (or 30%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance company.

At the end of the day, Progressive offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average rates coming in at $214 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. On average, Donegal Mutual will increase your prices about 58% after a DUI, while Progressive's average rates climb by more than 15%.

How does Credit Score Impact Donegal Mutual and Progressive Rates?

Did you know many insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an auto insurance factor) but it will come into play for a lot of drivers.

The reasoning car insurance carriers 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 cheaper prices.

Looking at Donegal Mutual and Progressive specifically, which company has the lowest premiums for drivers 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 Progressive 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 substantial impact on your monthly auto insurance bill? Typically, the more milage you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Progressive charges. However, there's a pretty significant difference in monthly rates for Donegal Mutual, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $36 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, for drivers in both categories, Progressive is the more affordable carrier.

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

Where you call home can have a pretty big impact on your monthly insurance payment. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas since there are a lot fewer cars on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Progressive typically comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Progressive's average prices are about 53% less than Donegal Mutual Insurance Company. People who live in suburban areas pay around 25% less with Progressive compared to Donegal Mutual. Those in rural areas can expect to save about 16% with Progressive compared to Donegal Mutual.

Donegal Mutual vs. Progressive 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.

The challenging part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

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

Progressive knocks Donegal Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 34 different discounts to Donegal Mutual's 34.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company. Progressive also offers discounts for advanced safety feature, agency transfer, continuous insurance, and more.

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

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

You've seen the role certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the right one for you and your specific profile and needs?

Progressive might be best for you if....

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- undefined only offers policies to residents.
• Your credit score is high.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower rates.

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 Progressive and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto 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 car insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just Donegal Mutual and Progressive. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Donegal Mutual vs. Progressive FAQs

Is Donegal Mutual or Progressive cheaper?

Progressive is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $180 per month with Progressive and $290 for Donegal Mutual. But that doesn't mean Progressive will be the most affordable carrier for each policyholder, since there are several different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Donegal Mutual or Progressive?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Donegal Mutual and Progressive offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use several different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Factors such as your driving record, age, where you live, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Donegal Mutual and Progressive use different formulas, 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 a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto 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 Progressive 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.