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

Quick Facts

• In general, Travelers offers significantly cheaper prices than Donegal Mutual
• Travelers has less expensive rates for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit
• Travelers tends to be a much more affordable option for people who are single and purchasing car insurance by yourself

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Donegal Mutual or Travelers as your top options, but which company will offer you cheaper premiums?

Looking at nationwide averages, Travelers is quite a bit cheaper than Donegal Mutual, with rates averaging $167 per month compared to $290 with Donegal Mutual.

But Travelers may not be the most affordable or best option for each driver out there. After all, insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, where you call home, your age, or even your credit score (among other things), so prices could change drastically from person to person.

Wanting to know if Donegal Mutual or Travelers 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 Travelers: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance payment than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for car insurance than any group out there on the road. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $300 less a month by choosing Travelers over Donegal Mutual.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your rates reduce significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Donegal Mutual policyholders drop almost $400 and Travelers's rates decrease more than $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance premiums you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

When looking at Donegal Mutual and Travelers specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Travelers gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $80 more affordable than the national average for Donegal Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance rates tend to be cheaper for married couples than they are for those who are single. That's because policies for married drivers usually cover several cars, which quite a few companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Travelers is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices about $154 per month less expensive than Donegal Mutual, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Travelers is also obvious, where drivers save around $80 a month.

Donegal Mutual vs. Travelers: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and file an insurance claim, which means they'll typically end up paying more for car insurance than women.

With Donegal Mutual, women usually pay about $20 per month less than men, and around $11 less with Travelers.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Travelers comes out as the lowest option for both genders, with average premiums $127 less for men and $120 cheaper for women.

Donegal Mutual or Travelers: 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 auto insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

Even so, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which generally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Travelers normally offers significantly more affordable rates of $108 compared to Donegal Mutual's $170. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Travelers again has the edge, with policies about $200 a month less expensive than Donegal Mutual, on average.

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

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

It's no secret secret that accidents and tickets lead to higher rates, but which company -- Donegal Mutual or Travelers -- has the cheapest prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Donegal Mutual policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $47 per month if they get a ticket, while Travelers generally raises rates around $32 a month, on average.

But Travelers is typically the cheaper option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering premiums that are 35% and 34% more affordable, respectively, compared to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Donegal Mutual increasing by just under $50. Travelers has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay $45 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the cheaper premiums come from Travelers, with monthly rates averaging $173 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 ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. For example, Donegal Mutual increases average prices by nearly $300 per month -- that's just under a 60% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Donegal Mutual and Travelers Rates?

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

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 less expensive prices.

So, which carrier offers the best rates for drivers 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 Travelers 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 how much auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Usually, those who drive less will end up with more affordable premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

Travelers tends to be the less expensive option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure. Donegal Mutual's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about 40% more expensive than Travelers. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay around 45% more with Donegal Mutual over Travelers.

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

Where you live can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

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

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Travelers offers premiums about $204 a month compared to Donegal Mutual's $445. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $160 a month for Travelers and $240 for Donegal Mutual. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest prices from both carriers, with average monthly rates coming in at $136 and $184 for Travelers and Donegal Mutual respectively.

Donegal Mutual vs. Travelers Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as you can.

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.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Donegal Mutual and Travelers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Travelers comes out ahead with 25 discounts to Donegal Mutual's 20.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Travelers also offers alternative fuel discounts, continuous insurance discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more that Donegal Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Donegal Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- family discounts, marital status discounts, next generation discounts, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is Donegal Mutual or Travelers the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

Travelers might be best for you if....

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on your record.
• You have above-average credit.
• You live in an suburban area.

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 Travelers and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Donegal Mutual and Travelers. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Donegal Mutual vs. Travelers FAQs

Is Donegal Mutual or Travelers cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Travelers is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $167 per month compared to $290 for Donegal Mutual. Even so, Travelers won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for each driver, since there are a range of different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Donegal Mutual or Travelers?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile.

Why do Donegal Mutual and Travelers offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at a lot of different factors when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Variables such as where you call home, age, where you park your car, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Donegal Mutual and Travelers calculate rates differently, 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 multiple different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car 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, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Donegal Mutual or Travelers 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.