General Casualty vs. Motorists: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, General Casualty offers significantly less expensive premiums than Motorists
• General Casualty has more affordable rates for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Motorists offers more discounts than General Casualty

General Casualty vs. Motorists: 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 might have narrowed your search down to General Casualty or Motorists, but which carrier has cheaper prices for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, General Casualty is quite a bit cheaper than Motorists, with premiums averaging $139 per month compared to $251 with Motorists.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean General Casualty will be the less expensive option for every single driver. Insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, and tons of other factors, so prices will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if General Casualty or Motorists is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

General Casualty or Motorists: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

General Casualty and Motorists only compete against each other in two states, with General Casualty offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where General Casualty rates are over 20% more affordable than auto insurance premiums at Motorists.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just your home state. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance prices. As you can see above, teens who use General Casualty save nearly $150 a month compared to those who use Motorists.

Even so, with both carriers, you'll see your rates drop significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for General Casualty policyholders reduce more than $150 and Motorists's prices lower almost $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the cheapest auto insurance premiums you'll ever 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 General Casualty and Motorists? General Casualty gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older nearly 45% less expensive than the national average for Motorists.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly more affordable auto insurance premiums than those who are single. That's normally because married drivers tend to own and insure multiple cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, General Casualty is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates about $113 per month cheaper than Motorists, on average. The advantage for married couples with General Casualty is also obvious, where drivers save around 50% a month.

General Casualty vs. Motorists: Average Rates by Gender

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

Men generally pay about $15 per month more than women with General Casualty, and around $10 with Motorists.

Looking at overall affordability, General Casualty comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums 43% less for men and 46% cheaper for women.

General Casualty or Motorists: 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 can be a complicated subject for most people. There are several different coverages that account for a variety of 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 normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, General Casualty typically offers significantly less expensive prices of $82 compared to Motorists's $123. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, General Casualty again has the edge, with policies about $200 a month more affordable than Motorists, on average.

Is General Casualty or Motorists Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto 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 accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest rates to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

General Casualty policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $43 per month if they get a ticket, while Motorists usually raises prices around $18 a month, on average.

But General Casualty tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records, offering rates that are 47% and 29% cheaper, respectively, compared to Motorists Insurance Group.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with General Casualty increasing by over $55. Motorists has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay more than $35 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, drivers who use General Casualty end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $146 compared to Motorists Insurance Group's $206.

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 -- typically a lot more than an accident or ticket. On average, Motorists will raise your premiums about 62% after a DUI, while General Casualty's average prices climb by over 50%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, General Casualty tends to be the much less expensive option with average rates of $186 per month compared to $442 from Motorists.

How does Credit Score Impact General Casualty and Motorists Rates?

Did you know that many insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect many drivers out there.

Car 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 cheaper rates.

Looking at General Casualty and Motorists specifically, which one has the most affordable premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with General Casualty. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save more than 35% compared to Motorists, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $67 or 36% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

General Casualty typically offers lower prices than Motorists when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $92 per month less with General Casualty compared to Motorists, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $234 a month.

Is General Casualty or Motorists Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on your monthly premiums. Generally, those who drive less will end up with cheaper rates 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 General Casualty charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Motorists, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $10 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, General Casualty is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

General Casualty vs. Motorists: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a large role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

General Casualty tends to offer the most affordable prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around $121 with General Casualty compared to Motorists. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $81 less with General Casualty compared to Motorists. In urban areas, General Casualty's average rates are around $135 less than Motorists Insurance Group.

General Casualty vs. Motorists Discounts

Regardless of 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 possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you qualify for.

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both General Casualty and Motorists so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Overall, Motorists has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. General Casualty offers a grand total of 12 discounts, while Motorists has 14.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Motorists also offers ABS discounts, empty nester discounts, homeowner discounts, and more that General Casualty does not.

On the flip side, General Casualty has a couple unique discounts of its own -- distant student discounts, employee discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is General Casualty or Motorists Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is General Casualty or Motorists the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

General Casualty might be best for you if....

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You're buying auto insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Motorists might be best for you if...

• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between General Casualty and Motorists and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your 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 multiple carriers, not just General Casualty and Motorists. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

General Casualty vs. Motorists FAQs

Is General Casualty or Motorists cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, General Casualty is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $139 a month compared to $251 for Motorists. Even so, General Casualty won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are a range of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, General Casualty or Motorists?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do General Casualty and Motorists offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at quite a few different variables when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Factors such as gender, your driving record, where you live, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both General Casualty and Motorists calculate prices using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different rates. 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 General Casualty or Motorists is right for me?

The only way to find the auto 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, 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 car insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be General Casualty or Motorists 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.