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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, National Mutual offers significantly more affordable prices than Esurance
• Esurance has cheaper rates for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• National Mutual offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who have a clean record

Esurance vs. National Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Esurance or National Mutual for your next policy, but which one has less expensive prices for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Esurance has average rates that are about 35% per month more expensive than those from National Mutual.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean National Mutual will be the more affordable option for every single driver. Auto insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like how old you are, how clean your driving record is, where you live, how good your credit score is, and all sorts of other factors, so rates could change drastically from person to person.

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

Esurance or National Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Esurance and National Mutual only compete against each other in one states, with National Mutual offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where National Mutual rates are over 30% cheaper than car insurance prices at Esurance.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your insurance payment than just where you call home. 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. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. As you can see above, teens who use National Mutual save nearly $250 a month compared to those who use Esurance. It's worth noting that Esurance offers car insurance in 11 different states compared to National Mutual's three, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, both carriers will reduce prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Esurance policyholders lower almost $500 and National Mutual's premiums drop around $300 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the lowest auto insurance prices you'll ever see. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Esurance and National Mutual? National Mutual gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $98 more affordable than the national average for Esurance.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are normally less expensive for married couples than they are for those who are single? This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple cars on their policy -- something lots of auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, National Mutual is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices about $121 per month cheaper than Esurance, on average. The advantage for married drivers with National Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save more than $65 a month.

Esurance vs. National Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

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

Normally, men see premiums around 7% per month higher with Esurance, and about 10% more with National Mutual.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, National Mutual offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $97 a month and women save around $97 with National Mutual compared to the average Esurance policyholder.

Esurance or National Mutual: 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.

Insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are lots of different coverages that account for many 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 that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- 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 what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, National Mutual generally offers significantly less expensive premiums of $94 compared to Esurance's $201. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, National Mutual again has the edge, with policies about $90 per month cheaper than Esurance, on average.

Is Esurance or National Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance companies 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 tickets and accidents lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- Esurance or National Mutual -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Esurance policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $45 a month if they get a ticket, while National Mutual usually raises rates around $11 per month, on average.

However, National Mutual has more affordable prices for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are 46% and 51% less expensive, respectively, compared to Esurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Esurance can expect to see about an $122 -- or around 34% -- increase in their insurance rates. Drivers who use National Mutual for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $76 (or 37%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their car insurance company.

Overall, drivers who use National Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $207 compared to Esurance's $364.

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 speeding ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. For example, National Mutual increases average rates by just under $200 a month -- that's just under a 60% increase.

Esurance has the overall lowest premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $301 a month, but it's worth noting that Esurance's average rates come from 11 states compared to just three for National Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Esurance and National Mutual Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly auto insurance rates. This isn't always the case (for example, California and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect a lot of drivers out there.

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, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable premiums.

Looking at Esurance and National Mutual specifically, which carrier has the cheapest prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with National Mutual. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 40% compared to Esurance, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $105 or 39% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

National Mutual typically offers lower rates than Esurance when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $84 per month less with National Mutual compared to Esurance, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $127 monthly.

Is Esurance or National Mutual 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 premiums. Typically, those who drive less will end up with more affordable prices since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much National Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Esurance, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying about $1 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, National Mutual is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Esurance vs. National Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a considerable impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Normally, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

National Mutual tends to offer the lowest premiums for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, National Mutual offers rates around $214 per month compared to Esurance's $396. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $201 a month for National Mutual and $288 for Esurance. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable prices from both companies, with average monthly premiums coming in at $189 and $211 for National Mutual and Esurance respectively.

Esurance vs. National Mutual Discounts

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

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

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Esurance and National Mutual so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Overall, Esurance comes out ahead with 24 discounts to National Mutual's 19.

Both carriers offer lots of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good student, and paid in full discounts -- but Esurance also offers ABS discounts, agency transfer discounts, DRL discounts, and more that National Mutual does not.

On the flip side, National Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- claim free discounts, continuous insurance discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Esurance or National Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which carrier is the best fit for you?

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

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You live in an urban area.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's insurance policy.

Esurance might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national car insurance company.
• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Esurance and National Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple companies, not just Esurance and National Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Esurance vs. National Mutual FAQs

Is Esurance or National Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, National Mutual is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $201 per month compared to $299 for Esurance. Even so, National Mutual won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are multiple different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Esurance or National Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Esurance offers more affordable premiums for drivers with a recent DUI, while National Mutual is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Esurance and National Mutual offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different variables when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Factors like where you park your car, where you call home, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Esurance and National Mutual calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers 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 car insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Esurance or National Mutual 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.