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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, State Farm offers significantly less expensive premiums than Donegal Mutual
• State Farm tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• State Farm offers more affordable prices for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Donegal Mutual or State Farm for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier will offer you cheaper rates?

Looking at nationwide averages, Donegal Mutual has average rates that are about 45% per month more expensive than those from State Farm.

However, that doesn't mean State Farm will necessarily be more affordable than Donegal Mutual for each driver. Insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like how good your credit score is, where you live, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, and a variety of other factors, so prices will vary quite a bit from person to person.

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

Donegal Mutual or State Farm: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Donegal Mutual and State Farm compete against each other in four states, with State Farm offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Virginia has the most noticable difference, where State Farm rates are over 70% more affordable than car insurance premiums at Donegal Mutual.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance cost than just where you call home. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance rates of any other group of drivers. Normally, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance prices. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have State Farm for their auto insurance pay nearly $300 less than those who use Donegal Mutual.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time you turn 25. State Farm 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 reduce more than 60% during that same period.

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 premiums you'll ever find.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Donegal Mutual and State Farm? State Farm gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older almost 50% less expensive than the national average for Donegal Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance prices are generally more expensive for single drivers than they are for married policyholders? This usually boils down to married couples having multiple cars on their policy -- something a lot of insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, State Farm is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums around $161 a month cheaper than Donegal Mutual, on average. The advantage for married drivers with State Farm is also obvious, where drivers save nearly $95 per month.

Donegal Mutual vs. State Farm: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance carriers will often charge men more than women.

On average, women see prices about 6% a month less with Donegal Mutual, and around 7% less with State Farm.

When it comes to the cheapest rates for each gender, State Farm comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices $135 less for men and $129 cheaper for women.

Donegal Mutual or State Farm: 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. There are a bunch of different coverages that account for multiple different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, State Farm typically offers significantly less expensive rates of $99 compared to Donegal Mutual's $170. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, State Farm again has the edge, with policies about $200 per month cheaper than Donegal Mutual, on average.

Is Donegal Mutual or State Farm 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with at-fault accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable premiums to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Donegal Mutual policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $47 a month if they get a ticket, while State Farm usually raises premiums around $21 per month, on average.

That being said, State Farm is generally the more affordable option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering rates that are 32% and 36% less expensive, respectively, compared to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company.

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 $50, while those who have insurance through State Farm will see about a $30 increase.

Overall, drivers who use State Farm end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $163 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 car insurance bill -- normally a lot more than a collision or ticket. Donegal Mutual drivers usually see a 58% increase in their auto insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while State Farm will typically raise rates by around 25%.

How does Credit Score Impact Donegal Mutual and State Farm Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for many policyholders.

Insurance carriers 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, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable premiums.

So, which company offers the cheapest prices for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Donegal Mutual or State Farm 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 less will end up with cheaper rates since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure, State Farm tends to be the less expensive option. Donegal Mutual average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $121 more expensive than State Farm. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay around $144 more with Donegal Mutual over State Farm.

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

Where you live can play a considerable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because there are a lot more vehicles on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

State Farm boasts the lowest average premiums for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest prices from both companies, but State Farm comes out on top with average rates about $127 a month. State Farm also has cheaper average premiums for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $260 and $79 a month respective difference when compared to Donegal Mutual policyholders in similar areas.

Donegal Mutual vs. State Farm Discounts

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

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

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

Looking at the total number of discounts, State Farm comes out ahead with 23 discounts to Donegal Mutual's 20.

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. State Farm also offers annual mileage discounts, distant student discounts, drive safe & save 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, group discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Donegal Mutual or State Farm Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the right one for you and your specific needs?

State Farm might be best for you if....

• Your driving record contains an at-fault accident.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" auto insurance.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.

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 State Farm. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car 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 several carriers, not just Donegal Mutual and State Farm. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Donegal Mutual vs. State Farm FAQs

Is Donegal Mutual or State Farm cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, State Farm is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $158 per month compared to $290 for Donegal Mutual. Even so, State Farm won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for each driver, since there are a range of different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, Donegal Mutual or State Farm?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Donegal Mutual and State Farm offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when calculating the rates they charge drivers. Variables like gender, your driving record, where your home is, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Donegal Mutual and State Farm calculate prices using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company 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 does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Donegal Mutual or State Farm 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.